FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY The overall function of the kidneys is to maintain the normal composition and volume of the blood. This is accomplished by four interrelated activities. (1) Wastes of metabolism are excreted. These include urea, uric acid, creatinine ammonia, sulfates and other products of metabolism, and toxic substances. (2) The amounts of fluid [...]

STRUCTURAL UNITS OF THE KIDNEY There are about one million working units called nephrons in each kidney. Each nephron consists of a tuft of capillaries known as the glomerulus attached to a long winding tubule that empties into collecting tubules. The glomerulus filters the blood that circulates through it. Water together with glucose, amino acids, [...]

SODIUM-RESTRICTED DIETS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASES: PREPARATION OF FOOD The booklets prepared by the American Heart Association contain menu suggestions and helpful hints for the preparation of food as well as guides for eating away from home. Patients who have always used much salt at the table are likely to complain bitterly about the [...]

DIET THERAPY: SELECTING FOOD FOR SODIUM-RESTRICTED DIETS The Exchange Lists for Meal Planning may be modified for sodium-restricted diets. All foods for these diets must be processed and prepared without salt or other sodium compounds. Canned foods, for example must be eliminated if they contain salt, but dietetic low-sodium canned foods may be used. When [...]

SODIUM-RESTRICTED DIETS: SOURCES OF SODIUM Naturally occurring sodium All living things, plants as well as animals, require some sodium. Hence one would expect to find some sodium in foods as they naturally occur before they are processed by the manufacturer or cooked in the home. Animal foods are relatively high in sodium, and plant foods, [...]

SODIUM-RESTRICTED DIETS FOR PEOPLE WITH HEART DISEASES: NOMENCLATURE Normally the daily sodium intake is 3 to 7 gm (3000 to 7000 mg). A sodium-restricted diet is limited to a specified amount of sodium, and ranges from a mild to severe restriction. Terms such as “salt free,” “salt poor,” and “low salt” are so indefinite that [...]

DIETARY COUNSELING FOR HYPERLIPIDEMIAS AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS In most instances the blood lipids are significantly lowered when the patient adheres to his diet. This, in itself, can be important in motivating the patient. But if the effect is to remain, the diet must be used throughout life. Menus for these diets are palatable and easily incorporated [...]

DIET THERAPY FOR HYPERLIPIDEMIAS Hyperlipidemia refers to an elevation of the blood lipids, and includes cholesterol, triglycerides, or elevation of specific lipoproteins. Hypercholesterolemia refers to an elevation in the serum level of cholesterol, while hypertriglyceridemia is an elevation of serum triglycerides. Hyperlipoproteinemia refers to the elevation in the serum level of one or more of [...]

ENZYME DEFICIENCIES: PHENYLKETONURIA AND GALACTOSEMIA More than a hundred enzyme deficiencies have been identified. These are generally inherited and are sometimes called inborn errors of metabolism. Many of them are evident shortly after birth and others are acquired later in life. Phenylketonuria Clinical findings. Phenylketonuria occurs in about 1 infant of every 10,000. The infant [...]

As the costs of hospitalization mount daily, many doctors have established suites for cosmetic surgery in their own offices. They can save the patient up to 2,000 dollars – a considerable sum, because almost no cosmetic surgery is covered by hospital insurance. The American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons inspects these suites and approves [...]